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Positioned on the most frequented avenues in the heart of Scotland's ancient city looms a imposing sight of scaffolding.

For five years, the establishment on the corner of a key historic street and a major bridge has been a shrouded blight.

Visitors cannot book rooms, walkers are directed through confined passages, and commercial tenants have vacated the building.

Restoration efforts commenced in 2020 and was initially projected to last a short period, but now frustrated residents have been told the scaffolding could remain until 2027.

Prolonged Deadlines

The main contractor, the lead company, says it will be "close to the conclusion" of 2026 before the earliest portions of the structure can be dismantled.

Edinburgh's council leader a city representative has labeled it a "blight" on the area, while heritage campaigners say the work is "highly inconvenient".

What is happening with this notoriously protracted project?

A Problematic Past

The sizeable hotel was constructed on the site of the former local government offices in 2009.

Estimates from when it initially debuted under the Missoni Hotel banner, put the cost of construction at about a significant sum.

Work on the building got underway not long after the start of the Covid pandemic with the hotel itself not accepting visitors since 2022.

A lane of traffic and a significant portion of pavement leading up to the junction of the Royal Mile have been closed off by the development.

People on foot going to and from the an adjacent district and Victoria Terrace have been required single-file into a tight, enclosed passage.

A dining establishment Ondine departed from the building and moved to another city in 2024.

In a release, its management said construction activity had forced them to modify the restaurant's look, adding that "customers deserved better".

It is also the location of dining franchise a chain – which has placed large signs on the scaffold to notify customers it is still open.

Delayed Plans

An report to the a city committee in the start of the year stated that the process of "revealing" the frontage would commence in February, with a total takedown by the year's end.

But SRM has said that is incorrect, citing "extremely complex" building problems for the delay.

"We expect starting to remove sections of the structure close to the conclusion of 2026, with further improvements proceeding afterwards," they said.

"We are collaborating closely with all parties to ensure we deliver an improved site for the community."

Local and Conservation Frustration

Rowan Brown, head of preservation association the an advocacy group, said the work had reinforced the city's reputation of being "leisurely" for construction projects.

She said those working on the project had a "obligation to the public" to minimise disruption and should integrate the work into the city's aesthetic.

She said: "It renders the pedestrian experience in that area of the city exceptionally challenging.

"It is perplexing why there is not some attempt to integrate it into the urban landscape or create something more aesthetic and avant-garde."

Project Response

A official statement said work on "solutions to aesthetically improve the site" was ongoing.

They continued: "We recognize the annoyances felt by nearby inhabitants and shops.

"This represents a lengthy and protracted process, highlighting the difficulty and scale of the remedial work required, however we are dedicated to concluding this vital work as soon as is feasible."

Ms Meagher said the council would "maintain pressure" on those involved to complete the project.

She said: "This scaffolding has been a problem for years, and I understand the annoyance of inhabitants and nearby shops over these persistent hold-ups.

"That said, I also acknowledge that the contractor has a responsibility to make the building secure and that this repair has been extremely complicated."